You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 397

Aiden couldn’t shake the feeling in his chest.

He needed money. Badly.

His mom’s illness was a black hole, swallowing every bit of cash he managed to scrape together. If Patricia hadn’t stepped in when she did, his mother probably wouldn’t even be alive right now.

But even when he was desperate, Aiden still had a conscience.

Every time he messaged Patricia, he hesitated. Guilt ate at him, but what was guilt compared to survival? Especially when his mom—the woman who gave him everything—was the one who needed help.

“Aiden!”

A deep voice yanked him out of his thoughts.

Aiden jumped to his feet when he saw who was at the door. “Mr. Newton.”

“How’s that gift I asked you to get?” Theo’s voice was cool as ever.

“It’s ready,” Aiden answered quickly.

Theo nodded, about to leave, then paused with one foot out the door. “You’ve seemed really stressed lately. Something going on at home?”

Aiden froze. Sweat prickled at the back of his neck.

Theo was a lot more suspicious than he’d been three years ago. This wasn’t the first time he’d asked questions like that.

Aiden kept his tone careful. “My kid’s been sick. Didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Theo just nodded and walked off.

As soon as he got to his office, Theo took out his phone and made a call. “Check up on it. See if Aiden’s kid is actually sick.”

“Mr. Newton, Amy’s calling,” his secretary announced.

Theo chuckled, not even pretending to care. “Are you trying to threaten me, Amy?”

“I’m not trying to threaten you. But don’t think you can push me around. You got what you wanted, but I haven’t gotten mine.”

They were supposed to help each other out. Theo got his advantage and now he wanted to disappear, leaving her hanging in the middle of nowhere.

What did he take her for, a prop?

“If you don’t want me to make a scene, help me land the lead in that retro government-funded drama. For someone like you, that should be easy.”

She’d agreed to fake a relationship with Theo because of his connections. In this business, talent wasn’t enough—she needed power behind her.

She’d fought her way up from a rural town to leading lady by keeping her head clear.

Theo stared at his phone after she hung up, letting out a dry, humorless laugh.